‘She was just better than me’ says Cornet after loss to Williams

Alize Cornet, who had stunned world No 1 Serena Williams in the semi-finals, failed to match the elder Williams sister, losing 11 of the last 12 games after breaking Venus for an early 2-1 lead, writes Ahmed Rizvi.

Alize Cornet returns the ball to Venus Williams during their women's singles final match at the WTA Dubai Tennis Championships on February 22, 2014. Ahmed Jadallah / Reuters
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DUBAI // Alize Cornet conceded Venus Williams was "just too good" for her on the night after being pummelled 6-3, 6-0 in the final of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, but the Frenchwoman reckons the scoreline was a bit harsh.

Cornet, who had stunned world No 1 Serena Williams in the semis, failed to match the elder Williams sister, losing 11 of the last 12 games after breaking Venus for an early 2-1 lead.

The seven-time grand slam champion broke back immediately and from thereon, it was an uphill battle for the 24-year-old world No 26, who committed 32 unforced errors to the American’s 17.

“I think 6-3, 6-0 is a bit tough in an hour and 30,” Cornet said. “I guess there was a battle on the court, but she was just better than me. That’s it. Really there is nothing to say. I started the match pretty well, but then she was just playing better.

“She was running so well on the ball. I was surprised of her quality. She was running so good, covering the court so well, so I was panicking a little bit.

Had she beaten Venus on the night, she would have become only the second current player, alongside Jelena Jankovic, to beat the Williams sisters in the same tournament and the eighth overall.

“For sure, beating the Williams sisters in the same tournament would have been amazing, but maybe next time if I have the chance to do it,” Cornet said.

“For now I will have to take all the positive things out of this week. I think there is a lot, so I’m still very motivated for the rest of the season.

“I beat two top 10 players [Serena and Simona Halep], two top 20 players [Kirsten Flipkens and Carlo Suarez Navarro], and it didn’t happen forever. So, for sure it’s amazing.”

arizvi@thenational.ae

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